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The SEC's Top 30 Games to Watch in 2013

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What are the biggest, most important games to watch in the SEC this fall?

The SEC's Top 25 Games to Watch in 2013

The most anticipated Game of the Century of the Year of the Universe the last two years in all of college football was Alabama vs. LSU. Well, as it turned out, last year’s Bama-LSU game might have been the most entertaining game in the series’ long history.

But it was the second-best game in the division last year.

Texas A&M and Johnny Manziel set the NCAA world on fire with a last-minute upset for the ages over the Crimson Tide in Tuscaloosa. So in a league with the World’s Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party, multiple ACC-SEC rivalries, historic cross-overs and nationally relevant SEC East bouts, it will be Nick Saban vs. Johnny Football that tops the must-see TV menu in the SEC this fall.

Alabama at Texas A&M: The game everyone has been talking about for over a year will happen within the first three weeks. This game has everything a fan could possibly want: the BCS defending champ, the defending Heisman winner, Nick Saban, College Station and SEC West championship implications. It will be the highest-rated college game of the year.

2.

Sept 7

South Carolina at Georgia: South Carolina has won three straight in the series, including a big win in Athens in 2011, and the winner has a clear path to Atlanta. However, the Dawgs have lost this game and still won the East in each of the last two years.

3.

Nov 9

LSU at Alabama: These two will meet for the fourth time in a 24-month period. LSU won the last time it visited T-Town (9-6 in OT) but has been undone by AJ McCarron in two games since. This will be as physical a game as there is in the nation again.

4.

Nov 23

Texas A&M at LSU: These regional rivals have met 51 times and fans tend to forget that LSU stymied the Heisman winner last year. After losing five straight to the Aggies in the '90s, LSU has beaten TAMU in each of the last two calendar years.

5.

Nov 2

Georgia at Florida: After Florida owned this series from 1990-2003, Georgia has bounced back with four wins in eight years. The Dawgs have won the last two meetings but needed some late heroics to win 17-9 last fall.

6.

Nov 16

Florida at South Carolina: The Gators crushed Carolina 44-11 last year in Gainesville and have historically dominated the series. However, the Gamecocks won the battle in 2010 and '11. This is a huge revenge game for Carolina, one with major SEC implications.

7.

Sept 28

LSU at Georgia: These two haven't met in the regular season since 2009 but have played three times in the SEC title game since '03. LSU has won the last two meetings by a combined score of 62-23 — both in the Peach State.

8.

Aug 31

Georgia at Clemson: An old-school, deep-south rivalry is renewed when these two get together on the first Saturday of the year. Georgia has won five straight over the Tigers dating back to 1991.

9.

Oct 12

Florida at LSU: One of the most physical games each season will feature two highly ranked teams again. LSU is 3-2 in its last five at home against the Gators and lost last year in Gainesville. This is a potential SEC elimination game.

10.

Nov 30

Alabama at Auburn: The SEC's best rivalry, The Iron Bowl, has provided the last four national champions. Bama has won four out of five in the series and will enter this meeting a heavy favorite.

11.

Nov 30

Clemson at South Carolina: The Garnett and Black have dominated this series of late, winning four straight with relative ease. The Tigers haven't won in Columbia since 2007 and will likely be an underdog heading into this critical regular-season finale for both.

12.

Nov 30

Florida State at Florida: After getting crushed in 2010 and '11 by the Noles, Florida bounced back last year with an impressive 37-26 win in Doak Campbell. This one could also feature two 10-win teams as it did last year. The juice appears to be back in this famous rivalry.

13.

Oct 19

LSU at Ole Miss: LSU has won nine of the last 11 meetings, including a 52-3 win in Oxford back in 2011. That said, Ole Miss has won two of the last five overall and could be in prime position for an upset.

14.

Oct 12

Texas A&M at Ole Miss: These two have played just five times — twice in College Station, once in Jackson, Oxford and Beaumont, Texas. The Aggies will have to visit Oxford for the second year in a row, however, after a quality effort from the Rebels in 2012.

15.

Oct 19

Georgia at Vanderbilt: The 'Dores don't have a huge home slate this fall but the Bulldogs will be a marquee upset chance. UGA has won six straight but Vandy has consistently played tough in this series at home.

16.

Nov 28

Ole Miss at Mississippi State: Dan Mullen rattled off three straight wins in impressive fashion before Hugh Freeze got to Oxford last year. The Rebels won 41-24 last year at home and will have to go on the road on Thanksgiving this time around.

17.

Oct 5

Georgia at Tennessee: Georgia has cost itself special seasons in Neyland before and this game was a tightly played game in Athens last year. Georgia has won three in a row and four out of five overall in this series.

18.

Oct 19

South Carolina at Tennessee: Tennessee owns the all-time record at 22-7-2 but has fallen on tough times of late, losing four of the last five. However, this was a close game last year and could be one of the tougher road tests for the Gamecocks this fall.

19.

Nov 30

Georgia at Georgia Tech: Clean, Old-Fashioned Hate might be the best named rivalry in the nation. However, Tech hasn't been able to hang with the SEC of late, losing four straight and 11 of the last 12 overall.

20.

Nov 16

Georgia at Auburn: The Deep South's Oldest Rivalry is dead even at 54-54-8 all-time. Auburn has been slammed by UGA (combined score of 83-7) the last two years but the Tigers should be much improved, especially near the end of the season.

21.

Aug 29

Ole Miss at Vanderbilt: This is one of the biggest first-weekend games to watch nationally. SEC and bowl implications could very well be on the line for both teams. The Rebels choked away a key home win against Vanderbilt a year ago.

22.

Sept 7

Florida at Miami: Al Golden has ACC title hopes but, make no mistake, beating an in-state SEC team is as important as any game the 'Canes will play this year. Especially, at home in Week 2.

23.

Nov 23

Vanderbilt at Tennessee: The in-state rivalry has picked up some extra fuel of late. The 'Dores won last year for just the second time since 1982 and it will be a key late-season swing game for both this fall.

24.

Oct 5

LSU at Mississippi State: The Tigers have won 13 straight in this series and 20 of the last 21 meetings. The last win for the Bulldogs came at home in 1999.

25.

Sept 21

Tennessee at Florida: The game that used to determine the SEC champion in the '90s has lost some luster as the Gators have dominated. Florida has won eight straight over the Vols.

26.

Oct 26

Tennessee at Alabama: The Third Saturday in October has been relegated way down the list of marquee SEC showdowns in recent years. Bama has won six straight, most by more than three scores.

27.

Aug 31

LSU vs. TCU (Arlington, Texas):The Bayou Bengals are 5-2-1 all-time against TCU, including five straight wins dating back to 1943. However, these two haven't met since LSU won 10-7 back in 1968.

28.

Oct 5

Ole Miss at Auburn: The Rebels have beaten the Tigers just five times since 1971 but last year's 41-20 drubbing was one of them. This time around these two old-school Southern programs will meet on The Plains.

29.

Aug 29

North Carolina at South Carolina: The Shrine Bowl, for lack of a better term, will come right out of the gate on the first Thursday of the season. South Carolina should be considered a heavy favorite.

30.

Sept 14

Ole Miss at Texas:The Horns are 6-1 all-time against the Ole Miss, including a 66-31 thumping in Oxford last season. The Rebs' only win came in the 1958 Sugar Bowl.

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